Getting Started in Reasons to Keep Bees Beekeeping Started.pdf4/18/2011 1 Getting Started in...
Transcript of Getting Started in Reasons to Keep Bees Beekeeping Started.pdf4/18/2011 1 Getting Started in...
4/18/2011
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Getting Started in
Beekeeping
Dr. Marion Ellis
University of Nebraska
Reasons to Keep Bees
Honey
Beeswax
Pollination
Environmental awareness
Ties to the natural world
Pollination value is
18.6 billion dollars
More than 95 crops
grown in the U.S.
depend on bees for
pollination
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Beekeeping encourages
conservation and biodiversityReasons Not to Keep Bees
You will automatically age
You will be a male
You like being normal
You like to converse about other topics
Mrs. Sallie E. Sherman
Mrs. Sarah J. AxtellMrs. L. Harrison
Mrs. J.N. HeaterMiss Emma Wilson
Five Representative Bee Women
American Bee Journal Cover – September
1895
Your friends will
see you differently
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Your enthusiasm may get out
of hand
Getting Ready
• Read a book
• Request supply catalogs
• Subscribe to a bee journal
• Join a beekeeping organization
• Attend a field day or short course
• Accompany an experienced beekeeper
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Bee stings
happen
Know Reactions to
Insect Stings
Normal
Large Local
Anaphylaxis
Normal Reaction
Symptoms
• Local pain
• Redness
• Swelling
Treatment
• Remove stinger
• Cold compress
• Analgesics
• Sympathy
Large Local Reaction
Symptoms
• Local pain
• Redness
• Swelling
extending
from sting
Treatment
• Remove stinger
• Analgesics
• Antihistamines
• Corticosteroids
• Elevate site
• Much sympathy
Anaphylaxis - ShockSymptoms
• Varies with person
• Generalized
urticaria
• Flushing
• Angioedema
• Hypotension
• Respiratory edema
Treatment
• Remove stinger
• Rush to a medical
center
• Epinephrine – soon!
Sensitization: Initial exposure to allergen
Allergen
Antibodies
(IgE)
Mast cell
H
H H
HH
B-cell
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Hypersensitivity: Later exposure to same allergen
Allergen
Mast cell
H
H H
HH
Allergen
Mast cell
H
H H
HH
H
H H
HH
Release of histamines
If you are allergic to
bee stings
• See an allergist
• Avoid bees until
desensitized
• Carry an EpiPen
Testing for Bee Sting Allergies
Who should be desensitized?
• Venom drops on skin
• Skin prick with lancet
• Result after 15 minutes
• Positive reaction: weal
with red flare
• Cross - reactivity
Lethal Doses of Bee Venom
Body Weight
• 10 kg child
• 30 kg child
• 60 kg adult
• 90 kg adult
No. Stings LD50
• 190
• 570
• 1140
• 1710
LD50=19 stings per kg body weight
Some people think bee
stings are good for what
ails them
The American Apitherapy
Society
Getting Started in Beekeeping
• Start right
– Good equipment
– Healthy bees
– Good strain
– Good location
• Start small
• Grow slowly
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Why New Equipment
• To learn about hive components and design
• Colonies in new equipment are easier to manipulate
• Used equipment can carry reservoirs of bee diseases Plan ahead, it will take several days
to prepare your new hive
Safety Equipment
• Smoker
• Bee veil
• Long-sleeve
light colored
shirt
• Pants
• Gloves
• The most
important
protective
equipment
• How smoke
affects bees
• How to light
a smoker
Beekeepers use smoke when they
examine a colony Smoker Fuels
• Burlap
• Rotting wood
• Pine needles
• Dried grass
• Sumac bobs
• Select a fuel that produces lots of cool white smoke
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Second Most Important
Safety Tool
• Covers
holes
• Closes
pant legs
& shirt
sleeves
How to Begin
• Package bees
• Swarms
• Nucs or divisions
• Established colonies
• Bee rustling
Starting with package bees Why Package bees
• They will exhibit minimal defensive behavior
• Management is simple
• You can observe colony grow
• Your skills will grow as your colony grows
How Many Pounds of Bees?
• 2 lb. package – 7,000 bees
• 3 lb. package – 10,500 bees
• 4 lb. package – ships poorly
• There are approximately 3,500 bees per pound
Starting With a Swarm
• When swarms occur
• How to get on call list
• Prime & secondary swarms
• Hiving a swarm
• Swarms are not free bees
• Once established, swarms are difficult to remove
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A swarm in MayIs worth a load of hayA swarm in JuneIs worth a silver spoonA swarm in JulyIsn’t worth a fly
Starting With a Nuc
• What is a nuc?
• Size?
• When to purchase?
• Diseases and parasites?
• Selecting a supplier?
Starting with an established colony
Races of Apis melliferafound in the U.S.
• Apis mellifera mellifera (German dark bee)
• Apis mellifera ligustica (Italian bee)
• Apis mellifera carnica (Carnolian bee)
• Apis mellifera caucasica (Caucasian bee)
• Apis mellifera scutellata (Africanized bee)
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Varieties of Bees Sold in the U.S.A.
• Russian Bees
• Varroa-Sensitive-Hygenics
• Minnesota Hygenics
• Buckfast Bees
• Ellis Blue Ribbon Babies
Choosing Apiary Locations• Nectar and pollen resources
• Water availability
• Morning sun
• Accessibility
• Windbreak
• Avoid areas where pesticides are applied
• Exclude livestock
The Basics of Good Management
• Productive queens
• Adequate stores
• Disease free bees
• Good location
• Standard equipment
Why is there so much disagreement among beekeepers about managing bees?
Because the bees are so tough that they usually survive our crude attempts at management -while each of us thinks they survived because of what we did.
Can you disagree?
• Queen excluders
• 9 or 10 frames
• Deep vs. shallow hive
• Use of frame spacers
• Frequency of requeening
• Recognize and control AFB
• Recognize and manage Varroa
• Don’t leave empty supers on during winter
• Use mouse guard in winter
OK to disagree Not OK to disagree
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How to Examine a Colony
• Smoke application
• Propolis seals
• Light colored clothing
• Slow deliberate movements
• Avoid vibrations
• How often to examine a colony
External Factors that Affect Colony Defensiveness
• Weather
• Colony strength
• Honey flow
• Robbing
• Recent disturbances
Beekeeper-Controlled Factors that Affect Colony Temperament
• Dark colored clothing
• Fuzzy clothing and exposed hair
• Vibration
• Rapid movement
• Keeping colonies open too long
• Odors that trigger defensive behavior
• Smokers that quit smoking
Join state and local beekeeping associations for fellowship, fun and
educational programs
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